This group of volunteers has produced some incredible annual events ranging from retail art shows for its members, to an informative evening artists' lecture series, to a art show for disabled adults, to a monthly informative lunch group, and to recycling materials into art calls to artists. There is so much offered to their members and to the community at large as well. It is a true pleasure to be involved with this group.
The Arts Council of Williamson County is a lively involved organization seeking to make a difference in the lives of those actively participating in the arts through providing venues in which artists can show their creativity and gain recognition for their successes. On the other hand, their efforts to educate the community about the arts are drawing new people into experiencing what it is like to be an artist in whatever medium. As a business owner, I have a limited amount of time for volunteering with nonprofits, but with The Arts Council of Williamson County, I found a group of volunteers who work as a team to promote the works of their colleagues as well as educate the community. Each week I see more and more results from the efforts of the organization, and that makes it all worth the time and energy I volunteer for the group. I am excited to see the group grow with involvement from members throughout all parts of the county as well as those in neighboring communities. To me, this means The Arts Council is enhancing the quality of life for its members and the community.
As a 2nd term board member, I have watch this all volunteer non-profit continuously grow, not just year-to-year, but month to month. The Arts Council offers so many opportunities for artists as well as the community. It has truly filled a void in the arts in Williamson (TN) and surrounding counties. For a young organization to offer so much is just amazing to me. Their programming includes Art Fusion, an annual two-day fine art & craft festival, including two stages of music and a Friday evening reception. Another annual event, An Artist’s Window, is a collaborative art show highlighting the abilities of adults with disabilities. A new event has been inspired from the Landfillart Reclamation Project that the Arts Council did in 2009, where artists created art out of hubcaps that were destined for the landfill. Their exhibit is now a part of a permanent collection in Pennsylvania. The new 2010 event, which culminated from this project, is called Encore! Reclaim the Sound. A collaborative effort between the Arts Council and the Steinway Piano Gallery of Nashville, will have art made out of unusable piano parts which will be auctioned off at a grand event in October. Proceeds from the event will go towards the Arts Council’s art education programs and the Steinway Society. They also have monthly programs. The Brown Bag Lunch Bunch is a casual get-together with entertaining and educational guest speakers. A great camaraderie of artists and community members have formed that would most likely have never met before this program. Art: Up Close & Personal is an evening Powerpoint presentation that gives a personal glimpse into the lives of various artists. The series is being videotaped with plans to distribute copies to local libraries and schools. In addition to all their programming, they have an extensive and informative website which includes an artist directory as well as art related news. Their bi-monthly E-newsletter reaches close to a thousand viewers. All of this could not be achieved had it not been for such a strong, hard-working, dedicated Board of Directors. Each board member has specific talents that has helped grow this organization and has kept in on the path of their strategic plan.